With the College Football Playoff quarterfinals officially set, the spotlight naturally shifts to the most crucial position on the field: quarterback. While football will always be the ultimate team sport, there’s no denying that quarterbacks are the engine of the offense. They touch the ball on every play, dictate tempo, and can swing games positively or negatively with just a handful of decisions.
Using Pro Football Sports Network’s (PFSN) QBi season grades, we’ve stacked the eight remaining playoff quarterbacks from lowest graded to highest, heading into the quarterfinal round. These rankings don’t predict outcomes, but they do provide context for how each signal-caller has performed over the course of the season.
Let’s break down the final eight, counting down from No. 8 to No. 1.
8) Behren Morton, Texas Tech
QBi Grade: 81.3
Morton comes in as the lowest-graded quarterback among the playoff field, despite playing the easiest strength of schedule according to PFSN. Part of that can be attributed to injury; Morton was banged up midway through the season and had to gut through games at less than 100%.
Texas Tech clearly adjusted, leaning more on the run game and defense to protect Morton from being put in difficult situations. He finished with just 22 passing touchdowns (7th fewest) but took excellent care of the football, throwing only four interceptions all season.
Morton averaged 240.3 passing yards per game, the fifth lowest among the eight, and offers virtually nothing as a runner (-81 rushing yards, 0 TDs). That lack of mobility allows defenses to drop extra defenders into coverage, forcing him to win strictly from the pocket and making his reads more difficult.
7) Carson Beck, Miami
QBi Grade: 83.3
Beck’s season has been defined by efficiency and volatility. His 74.7% completion percentage ranks second-best among playoff quarterbacks, highlighting his ability to distribute the football quickly and accurately.
Statistically, Beck finished third in passing yards (3,072) and fourth in passing touchdowns (25). However, his biggest issue has been ball security. Beck leads the group with 10 interceptions, showing that when defenses disrupt his rhythm, he can spiral into stretches of poor decision-making.
Like Morton, Beck is not a dual-threat quarterback. He posted just 39 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, allowing defensive fronts to aggressively rush the passer without worrying about contain or quarterback scrambles.
6) Ty Simpson, Alabama
QBi Grade: 85.3
After a rocky Week 1 performance against Florida State, Simpson caught fire and helped Alabama rip off eight straight wins through a brutal SEC slate. Early in the year, he looked nearly unstoppable.
Down the stretch, defenses appeared to adjust, leading to a slight dip in production, but Simpson responded when it mattered most, coming alive in Round 1 against Oklahoma to fuel a comeback win.
He ranks second in passing yards (3,268) and third in passing touchdowns (26) while throwing just five interceptions. The biggest “concern” is accuracy: Simpson’s 64.3% completion rate is the lowest among the eight quarterbacks.
With Alabama lacking a consistent run game, this offense lives and dies by Simpson’s arm. When he’s on, the Tide looks dangerous. When he’s off, the margin for error is slim.
5) Dante Moore, Oregon
QBi Grade: 85.9
Few quarterbacks in the field are as composed as Dante Moore. He’s been remarkably calm in high-pressure moments, earning a reputation as one of the most poised players in the playoffs.
Moore posted a 72.5% completion percentage (3rd) but ranked seventh in passing yards per game (227.8). That number isn’t entirely on him; Oregon dealt with significant injuries to top receiving options throughout the season.
Despite modest raw production, Moore’s upside is undeniable. He’s currently the No. 1 quarterback on PFSN’s 2026 NFL Draft consensus board and a projected top-five overall pick. At just 20 years old, Moore is still growing into his ceiling, which makes his performance this season even more impressive.
4) Gunner Stockton, Georgia
QBi Grade: 88.0
Stockton faced the second-toughest strength of schedule among the eight quarterbacks and remained steady all season, an embodiment of Georgia’s “next man up” culture.
He doesn’t dominate any one category, but he excels in everything. Need him to throw? Got it. Need him to run? Got it. Need him to manage the game and make timely plays? Got it.
Stockton’s mobility is what truly stresses defenses. He ranks second in rushing yards (442) and leads the group with eight rushing touchdowns. That dual-threat ability keeps defenses honest and helps explain why Georgia finished with just one loss and captured another SEC title.
3) Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
QBi Grade: 90.3
Not bad for a Division II transfer, right?
Chambliss has been one of the season’s most impressive stories. While Lane Kiffin deserves credit for the scheme and development, Chambliss deserves the praise for executing at a high level almost immediately.
He’s been efficient and explosive, throwing just 18 passing touchdowns (fewest among the eight) but also just three interceptions (fewest overall). Despite starting only 10 games, Chambliss ranks fourth in passing yards (3,016).
His legs elevate his game to another level. Chambliss leads all playoff quarterbacks with 470 rushing yards and added six rushing touchdowns, making him a constant problem for defenses, even when he isn’t scrambling first.
2) Julian Sayin, Ohio State
QBi Grade: 90.8
Sayin has been the model of efficiency. The Heisman finalist leads the group with an absurd 78.4% completion percentage, a number rarely seen at the college level. Add in how he has the highest third-down conversion rate percentage at 52.4% and good luck getting this offense off the field ever.
He’s second in passing touchdowns (31) and tied for first in net yards per attempt (9.1). While he offers little as a runner (negative rushing yards on the season), Sayin’s timing, accuracy, and anticipation more than compensate.
Indiana provided a blueprint by generating pressure, something few teams managed to do, but Sayin is aided by arguably the best receiver duo in the country. With Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate outside, many throws feel less like 50/50 balls and more like 80/20 in Ohio State’s favor.
1) Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
QBi Grade: 93.2
At the top sits Mr. Heisman himself.
Mendoza has been the most consistent and dominant quarterback in the playoff field, leading Indiana to an undefeated season, a Big Ten championship, and the No. 1 seed in the CFP.
He ranks fourth in completion percentage (71.5%), fifth in passing yards (2,980), despite sitting out multiple fourth quarters in blowouts, and first in passing touchdowns (33). His efficiency shines with 9.1 net yards per attempt, tied with Sayin, while throwing just six interceptions.
Mendoza’s situational awareness separates him from the pack. He knows when to tuck and run, especially in the red zone, where he’s added six rushing touchdowns, tied for second-most among the eight.
He’s the centerpiece of the nation’s highest-graded offense (93.0) according to PFSN, and when Indiana gets rolling, the unit looks unstoppable, fluid, explosive, and relentless.
